Meant to post this here – another addition to the boat

I am seeing this same problem myself. Last time I tried to go out, I unplugged the charger at about 6:00 PM and when I got to the lake at 6:30 AM, there wasnt enough juice to start the big engine.Can anyone tell me exactly why this is not a flaw in the system? I have been through two cranking batteries in less than a year. When the main switch is off and the starter key is off and the alarm is off and the bilge pumps are not set on auto and all of the hatches are closed, the boat should *not* be drawing any current from the cranking battery.I would like to hear an official response form BassCat on this.Thanks,Dennis

dmo361,What year model is your boat dmo361? This we could target some help for you on. Actually the engine and boat are three separate systems. One is the trolling harness, one is the engine harness and the third is the main boat harness. The engine harness keeps the processor hot, as does your vehicle. The boat harness keeps the processor hot to function security system and auto bilge, as does your vehicle. The trolling motor harness is not a shut down and can loose some limited voltage in time through the digital system. Though limited. The other issue is the battery quality, which we have repeatedly suggested that you put a big one on the main boat cranking engine and boat harness. If you are trying to use a series 24 cased marine cranking battery, then they will falter. The systems being different do cause an issue, though the only way to not have this is to put a main or bayonet arm switch on the main battery terminal. We know this does not answer everything for you, though it does describe what you are experiencing.To reduce the battery drain you either have to remove the leads, or you have to use a bayonet spade that you throw and it disconnects. BCB

So as I understand, it is more of an engine, battery and electronics issue than an issue with the boat itself…and I am not electrically knowledgable…but if the alarm is not in use, it doesnt draw amperage right? The reason I ask, is I know the BP Superdashes draw constantly, even when not in use, afterall it is a computer. So the newer dashes like the smartcraft or A10 draw when the master power is off as well?96 Eyra/12 Mercury 175 Pro XS with 2015 single axle trailer2017 Victory Gunner

If you put the largest(strongest) battery you can find on the cranking side, a lot of the phantom problems will go away or either direct you to the real problem you are having. When I purchased my used 2007 P4 from the dealer I had various problems. The previous owner had a Perko main battery switch installed. Not a bad idea in some respects, but he was using it to cover up some real problems that needed to be addressed. The series battery that he was using for cranking and running his operating electronics was not adequate. When I put in a Sears Diehard model PM1 31 series battery it solved many issues and then had me focus on where the real problems I had or either eliminated them all together. It is much heavier and cost more then the 27 series that was in there, but the issues it solved was well worth the investment. You have to remember that using three size 27 series to run a trolling motor all day is different then using one 27 series to run all the other electronics and starting you engine all day.